Merkel and Hollande: A thundering start

French president’s plane may have been hit by lightning, but there was no spark between him and the German chancellor

It was a dramatic arrival, but arrive François Hollande did. Not even a lightning strike on his plane was enough to stop France’s new president from keeping his date with destiny. As he stepped out of his Mercedes to be greeted by Angela Merkel for the first time on Tuesday evening, “Merkollande” or “Merde” – composite names for the two politicians seen to have Europe’s fate in their hands – was born.
—Kate Connolly in Berlin